The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1887-11-26
A MAYNARD son.
Throo Happy People on n Certain
Thanksgiving Day.

Every Christmas, or New Years, or
Thanksgiving day, Mrs. Forrest placed
II chair ut the table for their only son
and child, David, who had left his
home fifteen years before, at the age
of nineteen. Since he left, no word
from him had reached them. The
faithful heart of the mother refused tp
think of the lad rs dead, and so she
laid his plate at his old place. aud by
it placed a little bouquet of his fayoritc
flowers.
"You see, he may come back at any
time, father, and then he'd understand
that we've been thinking of him all the
time"
The old man shook his head. "Boys
like David don't come back, Sarah
Vice drove him away, and vice will
probably keep him away. If it's any
qualification for you to keep n place at
the table for him, YOU know that
don't object; but | wish you could
make up your mind that he will never
come back. These yearly reminders
only bring the old pain back, and if
could. | should like TO forget him alto
gcthcr."
mo, YOU wouldn't. James. He was
Tild and disobcdicnt, and brought
shame and sorrow over this threshold; /;
but for all that, he's our only child,
and I'm sure we can neither of us for
get mat. ~
II was just fifteen years since the
young man came home one night i'm II
bcastly state of mtoNication. II was
not the first time. but it was the first
time his father had seen him in that
condition. He was clerk in dry
goods store. and when he came home
late at night. his father supposed he
had been detained 10y his business, and
went contcntcdly to bed. The poor
wife, who sat up for the wayward boy.
knew better; but like many gentle
! but unwisc mother, she concealed her
sons vice from his father hoping he
might reform. Her husband was a
very stern man, and was unsparing in
his dcnunciations of the special vice of
intcmpcrancc. The truth is. she was
actually afraid To tell him.
The night have spoken of, Mr. For
rest had letter TO write, which kept
| him i'm the sitting room long after his
usual bedtime. When the soldering.
idiotic young drunkard rcclcd into the
room, his father sprung from his chair
rs if he had been shot. He looked at
his son, but did not say a word. Then
he sat deliberately down in a chair and
watched him, with such look ON his
white. set face that his terrified wife
laid her trembling hand on his arm.
He shook it OIL I'm few moments he
turned to her. and said. in n hard,
mcrcilcSs voice:
"IIow long has this been going on,
Sarah?'
"Oh. don't know, James" she
sobbcd. Eve seen him two or three
times under the influence of liquor, but
tell YOU, because he promised to re-
form. oh; don't be too hard on him.
father Pray. don't he too hard upon
! him."
Too hardw he repeated, looking
with angry disgust at the young man,
who was huddlcd in a heap in large
armchair, trying vainly to sit erect.
with q silly, drunken grin ON his face.
"Too hard! Why. If turned hlm out
of the house this very night, and dis
| lt,,, Ill lao. Il.
ing right Aud YOU have kept this
from me? How could YOU, how dare
! you. do il. and thus become response
bic for this disgrace? | might have
checked il. Now its too late. Look
at that idiotic face; the stamp of the
drunkard who is past recovery upon it,.
! It's too latc!'
"Oh. don't. don't. James" his wife
cried, knccling beside him. IL did il
for the best Don't say it's too latel
He's but little more than n child yet.
and bad company has led him astray."
The drunken boy laughed idiotically.
"G'long callin' me chile, ole oomanl
Bcs' poker player in town! Los ten
dollars. Ole Rapp's money though.
Took IL out till Gov'nor looks mad.
Matchmaker
"Oh. hushl hush hush!" the dis
tractcd mother said. taking him by the
hand. Come to bed. David oh. dc
comer The drunken boy pushed heI
aside.
"Gov'nor madv' he muttcred.
"Won't be suited! Gimme satisfac.